MICHAEL OWEN HAS admitted he still feels “resentment” towards David Beckham for being sent off in England’s match against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.
England held Argentina to a 2-2 draw after extra-time in the second-round match before going out of the tournament on penalties.
Glenn Hoddle’s team lost Beckham early in the second half when he kicked out at Diego Simeone, after being fouled by the Argentina captain and future Atletico Madrid head coach.
A public backlash against Beckham followed, with many blaming him for England’s defeat. An effigy of Beckham was even hung outside a pub in London.
Owen, who dazzled at the age of 18 in his first major tournament, has revisited the controversy 21 years later.
Despite the passage of time, Owen hasn’t let go entirely of negative feelings towards his former international colleague — later a club-mate at Real Madrid — over the Simeone incident.
Owen wrote in his new autobiography, being serialised in The Mirror: “With the benefit of hindsight and perspective, I feel that what David did probably wasn’t a red card offence in the first place. While it was clearly pre-meditated, it was immature and petulant more than it was violent. But for me, that almost makes it worse.
“All I can say is that, as I sit here now writing this book, knowing how lucky a player is to appear in one World Cup, never mind more than one, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that what David did that day hadn’t let every single one of that England team down.
“Did he deserve the abuse he got afterwards? Certainly not. What human being needs to see his or her effigy being burned? But David let us down, and I still hold some resentment about it today.”
Yesterday, Owen was involved in a Twitter spat with another former club and international team-mate. In response to a dig from Alan Shearer, Owen questioned the ex-Newcastle United striker’s loyalty to the St James’ Park club during his playing career.
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Oh ffs Michael let it go. Simeone was and is a world class wind up merchant (you’d call it s***housing today) and Beckham just happened to have a short fuse on the day. I’m really beginning to get the feeling that Michael Owen isn’t very bright.
@Darren B: Where’ve you been that you’re only noticing that now? Google ‘Michael Owen stupid commentary’ It’ll give you a laugh.
@Darren B: First link
https://thefootballfaithful.com/michael-owen-10-stupid-quotes/
@Darren B: if your only noticing that now. You may not be to far behind him.
Nothing to do with the 6-1(1)-2 formation ye played for the last 70 minutes of the game no? The two sitters ye missed. The huge standard drop when Scholes and LeSaux came off? Ince’s worst performance for the three lions.
Also the game was a draw, how did Beckham’s red card make you lose a penalty shoot out, when it was stated already he wouldn’t have been one of the 5 pk takers.
State of ya Owen.
Its about selling his book, nothing else. Ching ching
@Chris Tobin: you hit the nail on the the head throw in a bit controversy have a go at a few old team mates it sells books
Let it go .
He’s resentful of his shite career compare to Beckham’s. If Owen had 2 brains, he’d be twice as feckin dumb. Painful lad to listen to.
@Nollaig Elliot: massively underrated comment
This is sort of stuff you want in Autobiographys. Most are afraid to speak their minds and be honest. Fair dues to him. Def will buy it.
@IrishOwl: we’re talking about your average soccer fan here. They don’t want honesty-they want Love Island and Gogglebox.
England had some serious talent back then. The fact that they actually flopped every time is actually understandable now when you hear the stuff some of those ex England players have came out with over the years
Bunch of me féiners
Owen always had a reputation of being a Beckham brown noser. So I think this revelation that he’s unhappy with Becks is his way of trying to shake off the brown noser tag.